Device and method to collocate tile laggings and/or tiles combined with other laggings with no use of mix of cement and /or adhesives and/or backing for joints

ABSTRACT

A device that includes a bearing surface to collocate tile laggings and or tiles combined with other laggings, this bearing surface being adhered to the wall or surface to be covered, the bearing surface having long shaped elements with an exterior in the shape of a channel, serving as aligning rods for the tiles, a level band, perforations for the fixing to the wall, areas of antisliding material so as to avoid the movement of the tiles, lines for cutting to adapt the bearing surface to the surface that is to be covered, separators of tiles, fitting lid elements on the aligning rods, and at least one channel for wiring and supplements for the leveling of the bearing surface.

This invention relates to a device and method to collocate tile laggings and or tiles combined with other laggings with no use of mix of cement and /or adhesives or backings for joints. The invention allows for an easy and quick covering of tiled walls as well as their replacement with new ones in better or more convenient conditions, or the temporary removal of the tiles to make some repairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The traditional method of tile lagging consists in applying a layer of cement-mortar, cement adhesive or similar on which the tiles are placed. This requires experience, skill and knowledge of the techniques for collocation, as well as the tools to be used such as wood strips, plummet, bucket, bricklayer laddie, sponge, wood sticks, gloves, builder's level, tile cutters, and trowels.

The previous state of the technique includes systems of metallic sheets with hafts, fixing it with cement or mortar on the joints as can be seen in the Japanese publication JP2003253851 dated Sep. 10, 2003.

Other systems include retaining slides with the requirement of laying the tiles with special characteristics that complement with such slides. By special characteristics of the tile we understand a lateral section of it operating with a section of the slide. Such development is observed in the Japanese publication JP 10-82157 dated May 4, 1992.

Another document of the previous state of the technique is in the Japanese publication JP 4-140359, dated May 14, 1992, in which it is explained the use of horizontal rigid slides attached to the wall to be covered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention allows the collocation of tile laggings and or tiles combined with other laggings without the use of cement or mortar or the like. Therefore unskilled people can very easily collocate tiles or tile laggings as the device provides an integral solution to cover the entire surface that needs to be covered, including edges, terminations, internal and external right angles and others of the room to be decorated. If the tiles were to be removed to repair a pipe leak, the process is done without breaking any tiles avoiding later difficulty to find the same design or pattern thus affecting the design of the room.

Since this system does not require the gluing of the pieces, different elements can be combined to decorate, such as: tiles, wood, mirrors, lit glass panels and the like allowing the marketing of such elements in a similar format to the tiled one.

This invention is includes a bearing surface on which the tiles are placed. This is adhered to the wall or surface on which the tiles are to be placed. The collocation is done with the help of a level ribbon and perforations for its fixing with areas of antisliding material that will prevent the movement of the tile, of lines for cutting through to adapt the bearing surface to the surface to be covered, of perforations for the fixing of long-shaped elements with the outer shape serving as aligning rods, this in case the mentioned rails are not already integrated to the resting surface. In addition to this, separators will be used and placed between the tiles, elements with fitting lids in the above mentioned rods of at least one channel to pass low ampere wiring and of supplements for the leveling of the bearing surface.

The bearing surface, the rods, and the rods' lids will be of a flexible or semiflexible material to accompany the movement of the building or construction. A level band will allow to align the resting surface with the surface to be covered. Such level band can optionally contain a bubble (level bubble).

Such an aligning rod can be placed on the bearing surface in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal way, and can be integrated to the resting surface in any other preferred way to be placed on the perforations of the fixings of the rods.

The aligning rods do not include unevenness since they are integrated to the resting surface and optionally their collocation is made on the perforations of the fixings of the rods in the same way its base does not include unevenness. The tile is placed on the resting surface in its entire surface (picture 8)

The tiles to be used are the standard ones in the market. It is not required that those should have edges or special fittings, as it is required for the other systems.

The lines for cutting will allow to adapt the resting surface to the surface that is to be covered, i.e. if the surface to be covered is of smaller dimensions to the resting surface, it will only be necessary to remove some of the vertical or horizontal stripes with the help of the lines for cutting. The elimination of those will reduce the bearing surface of the tiles. If it is necessary, the reduced surface will allow the collocation of tile sections. (½ tile, ¼ tile or any other size)

The perforations of the bearing surface will allow the fixing of such on the wall with the only help of fixing elements such as screws. In addition to this, leveling supplements will be used to correct unevenness on the wall or surface to be covered. Once such bearing surface has been fixed, the collocation of the chosen tiles is done and the fixing of those through the corresponding rod lids.

There is a possibility this invention is applied on a premolded plate which could already have the perforations that will match those on the bearing surface leaving then only the collocation of the screws for their fixing.

Those bearing surfaces will have antisliding areas that will permit a better fixing of the tiles avoiding their sliding down from their original position.

As expressed before, the rods or rails will guide the collocation of the tiles, allowing them to be placed in a parallel way one from the other.

In a particular way such rods and lids will be made of a transparent or translucid material.

Regarding the division between adjacent tiles, elements called separators will be used and will be placed between the tiles and all along each of the tile columns. Those separators will have a varied structure being configured with a rectangular cross section of different sizes and height-width proportion.

The bearing surface will include channels for the passing of low ampere wires so as to decorate or light if the chosen style includes transparent or translucid laggings.

It is to be noticed that this invention is clearly different from the previous ones in each one of these points:

a. No cement or adhesives are used.

b. The bearing surface contains an antisliding surface or area.

c. The bearing surface contains a level band for its correct collocation

d. The tiles fully lie on the bearing surface, protecting them from possible breaks. That is to say, there are no empty spaces between the tiles and their bearing surface.

e. There are no empty spaces between the aligning slides and the tiles, firmly fixing the lafter.

f. No special tiles are required. It eventually allows the manufacturing of tiles with flat posterior surfaces that do not require relieves for the fixing through with cement or adhesives thus making of this an inexpensive system.

g. It allows the multiple positioning of the aligning rods, not only vertically or horizontally, allowing them to be installed in multiple ways.

h. The bearing surface includes channels for the passing of low ampere wires that allows the installation of light systems.

i. This system allows adapting to multiple size tiles.

j. It allows the installation of it by unskilled/inexperienced people, and it is easy and quick to set up.

k. No filling is required for the joints or spaces between tiles.

l. Given the structure of the invention, an even distance between tiles is guaranteed.

m. This invention allows the combination of multiple materials for decoration. There are certain materials (tiles, wood, mirrors, and glass) whose collocation requires different methods. They use different amounts of adhesive, different number of trowels and other types of filling for joints.

n. In the event of an uneven surface, this invention allows for the installation of leveling supplements to correct such inconvenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better comprehension of this present invention and a better understanding of its commercial advantages there is a detailed description of some examples of preference of use of this present invention, basing itself on the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the device for the collocation of tile laggings of this invention according to the first preferred way of collocation;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wall with tiles applied according to the device in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and 3 d illustrate both views in section of the separators to use in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows one-half of the bearing surface seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an angle or corner on which this invention has been applied according to the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b illustrate both sectional views, where it can be observed the application of this present invention according to FIG. 1 in external corners and in the square and round edged versions respectively;

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show both views in cut in the internal corners of the present invention according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the square and round edged versions respectively;

FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional view of the display of a number of tiles on a wall using the device of this present invention according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which the guiding rod is not an integral part of the bearing surface of the tiles;

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the set of rod, its lid, and bearing surface, being each of the pieces independent one from the other;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a wall with tiles applied according to the embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d and 12 e illustrate sectional cross-sectional views of the separators to be used in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 13 a and 13 b show cutaway views of the set of rod and lid according to two alternate embodiments;

FIGS. 14 a, 14 b, 14 c and 14 d illustrate cross-sectional views showing the application of the second embodiment of the invention to external corners in the square and round edged versions respectively;

FIGS. 15 a, 15 b, 15 c and 15 d show both cross-sectional views the application of the device in the second embodiment in internal corners of the present invention in the square and round edged versions respectively;

FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display of a number of tiles on a wall using the device of this present invention, according to the embodiment in FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which each aligning rod is a double rod that has cross-sectional cuts so as to allow the sliding and positioning of the lids in either a parallel or perpendicular position to the rod;

FIG. 18 depicts the structure of the rod with its holding protuberances to the bearing surface of the device of this present invention applied according to the second and third preferred modalities for the realization of the present invention;

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b illustrate front and rear views of a rod lid to be used in the shown rods of FIGS. 20 and 21;

FIG. 20 illustrates a view of the collocation of a tile on a double rod, which has carvings all along its length;

FIG. 21 shows the positioning of the rod lids in a parallel as well as in a perpendicular position to the rods;

FIG. 22 illustrates a sectional view of FIG. 20;

FIGS. 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d show a cross-sectional view of the separators to be used in the embodiment of FIG. 20;

FIGS. 24 a and 24 b illustrate section cuts of a non-integral double rod with the bearing surface and its corresponding lid in the two preferred embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 25 depicts the positioning of the aligning rod in angle;

FIG. 26 shows the channels for wiring to place lighting elements;

FIG. 27 shows a sheath/cover applied on the tile; and

FIG. 28 shows the perforations with threads on the rods and lids of the device of this present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be noticed that the same reference number corresponds with the same element independently of the drawing figure referenced in this description.

In FIG. 1 a bearing surface 1 is seen with its vertical and horizontal lines for cutting 5, the perforations or holes 3 for the fixing to the wall to be covered, a long shaped element with its outer shape in the form of a channel, serving as aligning rod for the tiles 8, the lid of such rod 10, the tiles 12 and the separators 9. It can also be seen a channel for low ampere wiring 6 on the bearing surface 1.

In the method of tile collocation of this present invention, the bearing surface will initially be placed on the wall or surface to be covered 13, prior leveling with the leveling supplements 11, if necessary, and with the help of the level band 6, fix the one with elements such as screws.

Once such bearing surface 1 has been placed, a surface with aligning rods 8 will be available, and those will serve as bearing surface to one of the edges of the tile 12. Such rod will allow the aligning of a row of tiles 12.

There will be then a row of tiles 12 on each side of the rod 8. Among them and alongside the row, the before mentioned separators 9 will be placed. Likewise the antisliding areas 4 of the bearing surface 1 will help so that those tiles do not press too much on the separators 9 or rods 8 and prevent the sliding of the tile 12.

Once the tiles have been placed on each side of the rod 8 the final step will be to put the rods' lid 10 so as to hold the tiles and disguise such rods 8.

Another possibility regarding the rods 8, is that those are not part of the bearing surface 1, but that such rod 8 is placed by means of protuberances 14, which will be inserted in holes or perforations 7 of the bearing surface. This characteristic will allow to use one same bearing surface for different tile sizes; that is to say, the aligning rod 8 will be placed according to the size of the tile.

In addition to this, such rod 8 can have only one reel or channel, or have more than one. If so, the rod lid 10 will have to be cooperating in shape with the rod to be covered. Such double rods can be seen in FIGS. 22, 24 a and 24 b.

As far as the corners are concerned, the collocation will be carried out in a similar way, having specific pieces for such purpose as can be seen in FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 7 a, 7 b, 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 15 a, 15 b, 15 c and 15 d.

In FIGS. 6 a and 7 a a preferred embodiment is shown, a corner on which the tiles 12 are displayed and where the edges of such corner will allow the fixing of the tiles.

In FIGS. 14 a, 14 c, 15 a and 15 c a preferred embodiment is shown, a corner on which the tiles 12 are displayed, and where the rod lid is the element that allows the fixing of the tiles.

In the preferred way 6 b, 7 b, 14 b and 15 b the fitting edges of the corner piece and the element used as corner edge, will be of a curved shape to conceal the edge of the corner.

FIG. 8 shows the display of the tiles along a wall, the tiles 12 can be seen placed between the aligning rods 8 of a bearing surface 1, and fixed through the use of rods' lids 10. The internal corner is formed thanks to a bearing surface of the internal corner 15. On the other hand, the external corner uses a bearing surface 16 similar to the internal corner mentioned before.

Such as the case of the rod 8 of FIG. 10, this one not being an integral part of the bearing surface 1, there is the possibility that the corner fitting piece of the tiles 19 may not be an integral part of the bearing surfaces either, but an independent piece as can be seen in FIGS. 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and 15 d. This characteristic can be found in interior as well as exterior corner pieces.

In FIG. 5 there is a solution with bearing surfaces in the case there are no corners following the lagging. In such case, rod 8 should match the rib of the corner that is to be covered; similar to the previous cases such rod will be covered by a lid 10 for a better fixing of the tiles and better aesthetics.

In FIG. 4 the bearing surface 1 can be seen, on which the lines for cutting 5 are placed, those will allow a smaller bearing surface 1 once they have been cut along their lines. As can be noticed in FIGS. 1 and 9, said lines 5 can be placed in either a parallel or perpendicular position to the rod.

The placement of all these lines for cutting allows adapting the bearing surface 1 to the shape of the surface that has to be covered.

The rods' lids 10, these are designed to fit safely on the rod so as to obtain a strong fixing of the tiles.

In the other forms of use of this present invention, FIGS. 19 a, 19 b, 20 and 21, the aligning rod is double and has three edges perpendicular to the bearing surface, having both external edges 17 notches 18 along its length, defining portions of rod that will serve for the positioning of the lids 10 in either a parallel or perpendicular position to such portions of rod.

Additionally, and for all the preferred embodiments of this invention, in FIG. 25 the positioning of the rod 8 can be seen placed at 45 degrees from the lines for cutting 5. Said characteristic is achieved by aligning the holes for the fixing of the rod 7.

FIG. 26 illustrates the placement of the channels 6 for the lighting elements or lamps 22; connectors for the low amperage supply 23 and the positive and negative wiring 24.

FIG. 27 shows the application of an anchoring system 20 applied to the tile 12 so as to enhance its fixing. A case 21 will be placed on the holes of the bearing surface 1 and will receive tile 12. On one side of the anchoring system 20, the aligning rods 8 and their lids 10 will be placed as illustrated in the previous FIGs.

In the preferred embodiment of use of this invention, as can be seen in FIG. 28, the rods and lids will have perforations with threads 25 so that lighting devices can be placed alongside.

The placement of the tiles will take place due to the device described above and using the methodology recited in this invention and in which the following steps take place:

a) Present the bearing surface 1 on the wall or surface to be covered.

b) Adapt the bearing surface 1 to the wall or surface to be covered through its lines for cutting 5.

c) Level the bearing surface 1 through the leveling bands 2

d) Prepare the wall or surface to be covered with the necessary holes for the holding or fixing of the bearing surface 1.

e) Fix the bearing surface 1 to the wall or surface that is to be covered through perforations for the fixing 3 and if necessary the leveling supplements 11.

f) Install the wires through the channels for wiring 6, in case translucid or transparent elements are used.

g) Place the aligning rods 8 (horizontal/vertical/diagonal) on the perforations for the fixing of the rods 7, in case the aligning rods 8 are not part of the bearing surface 1.

h) Place the tiles on the areas where the antisliding material 4 is on the bearing surface, and between the aligning rods 8.

i) Place the separators 9 among the tiles 12.

j) Place the rods' lids 10 for the fixing of the tiles 12 and separators 9.

It is also possible to carry out an intermediate stage between stages “g” and “h”, consisting in the application of covers on the tiles, having the former an anchoring system.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A device to collocate tile laggings and or tiles combined with other laggings with no use of mix of cement and /or adhesives and/or backing for joints, comprising: a bearing surface on which the tiles are placed, said bearing surface configured for being adhered to the wall or surface to be covered, said bearing surface having long shaped elements with an exterior in the shape of a channel, said long shaped elements serving as aligning rods for the tiles, said bearing surface comprising a level band, perforations for fixing the device to the wall, at least one area of antisliding material to prevent the movement of the tiles, lines for cutting to adapt the bearing surface to the surface that is to be covered, tile separators, fitting lid elements on said aligning rods, and at least one channel for wiring and supplements for the leveling of said bearing surface.
 2. The device of claim 1 where said bearing surface is made of a flexible material.
 3. The device of claim 1 where said bearing surface is made of semiflexible material.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said long shaped elements serving as aligning rods are independent elements of the bearing surface, having such bearing surface perforations for the insertion of protuberances displayed on the long shaped elements to fix said elements to the bearing surface.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein internal and external corners are formed using a bearing surface on which the corner vertex is formed.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the formation of internal and external corners is accomplished using two bearing surfaces, one on every plane of the corner, having an independent corner element on which a portion of the lids of the long shaped elements will be placed.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein such channel shape of the long shaped element is the shape of a double channel.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein such long shaped elements have carvings all along its external edges.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the separators have a rectangular transversal section.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein said holes on the bearing surface are aligned and equally distant one from the other.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the antisliding areas have a rectangular configuration.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the lines for cutting are placed parallel and perpendicular to each other.
 13. The device of claim 1 wherein upon said bearing surface and between said long shaped elements, a cover for the tiles is fit with an anchoring system on its edges for a firm fixing of the tiles.
 14. The device of claim 1 further including wires of a low amperage.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein said level bands have a bubble level.
 16. The device of claim 1 wherein a translucid material is used to make the rods and lids.
 17. The device of claim 1 further including a transparent material used to make the rods and lid elements.
 18. The device of claim 1 wherein the rods and lid elements have perforations with screws to allow the collocation of lighting elements along them.
 19. A method for the collocation of tiles or tiles combined with other laggings that uses the device of claim 1 including the following steps: a. presenting the bearing surface on the wall or surface to be covered; b. adapting the bearing surface to the wall or surface to be covered through its lines for cutting; c. leveling the bearing surface through the leveling bands; d. preparing the wall or surface to be covered with the necessary holes for the holding or fixing of the bearing surface; e. fixing the bearing surface to the wall or surface that is to be covered through perforations for the fixing and if necessary the leveling supplements; f. installing the wires through the channels for wiring, in case translucid or transparent elements are used; g. placing the aligning rods on the perforations for the fixing of the rods, in case the aligning rods are not part of the bearing surface; h. placing the tiles on the areas where the antisliding material is on the bearing surface, and between the aligning rods; i. placing the separators among the tiles; and j. placing the lid elements for the fixing of the tiles and separators.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein between stages “g” and “h”, an intermediate step takes place, consisting in the application of covers on the tiles, having the former an anchoring system, and anchoring the tiles to such cover. 